From Milk Producers To Business Owners: UP Women Lead ₹5,716 Crore Dairy Network

Lucknow, August 24: Women in rural Uttar Pradesh are scripting a new chapter in the state’s dairy economy. Five companies formed under women’s self-help groups associated with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission have recorded a combined business turnover of approximately ₹5,716.26 crore since 2019. More than 3.88 lakh women are now associated with these companies.

From milk production and collection to processing and marketing, growing participation of women is providing a new foundation to rural economy. Women-led milk producer companies currently collect approximately 12.5 lakh liters of milk every day. Their network has expanded to 6,603 villages across 31 districts, with plans for further expansion.

Moving women beyond the traditional boundaries of self-help groups and connecting them with business and company operations is now creating a visible impact in rural areas. Women from rural households are increasingly adopting dairy farming as a regular source of income.

Organized systems for milk collection and marketing have provided them with access to local markets while strengthening livestock rearing as an economic activity.

Arun Kumar, Director of Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission, said women dairy producers are emerging as a new force in the rural economy. Companies established through women’s groups are connecting women with the entire value chain, from production to business operations. This is positively impacting their incomes and economic activity in villages.

The growing role of women-led milk producer companies can be gauged by the fact that these companies collect approximately 12.5 lakh liters of milk every day. Many women are engaged in livestock rearing and dairy production, supplying milk regularly. An organized collection system is also making it easier to take milk to the market.

Role of women’s groups is not limited to supplying milk. Women associated with these groups are collectively learning to manage economic activities and better understand business operations. This is also fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among rural women.

This successful business model has already reached more than 6,500 villages across 31 districts, with plans underway for further expansion.

Five women-led companies have recorded a combined turnover of ₹5,716.26 crore since 2019. The figure reflects how the initiative to connect rural women with an organized business model is translating into significant economic impact. More than 3.88 lakh women are associated with these companies, giving the model a broad social and economic base.

This business model is creating new opportunities for employment and income in rural areas. Increased participation in livestock rearing, milk collection and allied activities is also giving momentum to the local economies of rural households.

Under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath, emphasis is being placed on economically empowering women in rural areas. Through Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission, self-help groups are being connected with livelihood activities and encouraged to move towards entrepreneurship and business.

The objective is to provide women with local income-generating opportunities, reducing the need to migrate elsewhere in search of employment.

Dairy farming has emerged as an important avenue in this effort. Livestock rearing, which was traditionally viewed primarily as a household activity, is now being systematically transformed into a source of income and a viable business. Companies run by women’s groups reflect this change.

The role of women’s groups in strengthening the rural economy is also being linked to the state’s broader economic ambitions. Connecting women with entrepreneurship, production and markets is expanding the scope of economic activity in villages. This is helping enhance the purchasing power of rural households while boosting local businesses.

Thousands of crores in turnover generated by five women-led companies, along with the participation of lakhs of women, demonstrates that self-help groups are no longer limited to savings and small loans. They are emerging as organized business entities and important contributors to the rural economy.

A large-scale milk collection network is taking women’s economic participation to a new level. On one hand, it is encouraging livestock rearing; on the other, it is enabling women to receive the economic value of their labor. With a regular source of income, women are also playing a more significant role in meeting their families' financial needs.

Five milk producer companies formed under Rajya Gramin Ajivika Mission-

1. Balini Milk Producer Company Limited

2. Kashi Milk Producer Company Limited

3. Samarthya Milk Producer Company Limited

4. Shri Baba Gorakhnath Kripa Milk Producer Company Limited

5. Srijani Milk Producer Company Limited

Districts where the business network has expanded-

Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Ballia, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Fatehpur, Amethi, Kanpur Nagar, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur and Rampur.